Sterilizable surgical-instrument case.



PATENTED AUG?.11,1903., H. P. WILSON. I Y STERILIZABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT GAISE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4. 1902.

no Mann."

UNITED STATES Patented August 11, 19 03.

.HELEN P. WILSON, OFVANWERT, OHIO.

$PEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 736,328, dated August 11, 1903..

Application filedyOctober 4,1902.

easily and readily sterilized by washing in an antiseptic solution. Instruments can readily be sterilized by boiling; but a case of the usual construction cannot be so handled.

My improvement consists of an outer and inner case, the outer case being composed of vulcanized rubber, celluloid, enameled metal, or some equivalent, and the inner case being composed of soft sheet-rubber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective exterior view. of my improved case. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the case open. Fig. 3 is a'detail cross-section, the outer case being closed and the inner case eX- tended. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inner case extended.

In my improvement I employ an outer case A, substantially oblong in form, the case preferably being composed of hard rubber and having hinged lid A of the same material. The case may be reinforced along its upper edge by an integral rib A though where metal is used for the body of the case this would be unnecessary. Metal bands 13 are secured around the case both to strengthen same and to serve as means to which hinges (not shown) and the locking=plates B and catches B are secured, and to the upper portion of these plates is also secured the handle B A nameplate ]3 can be secured to the outer case, if desired.' The inner case 0, which is designed to hold the instruments and prevent them coming in contact with the outer case, is of Serial No. 125,946. (No model.)

soft rubber and adapted to snugly fit inside that this inner case is removable, and it is obvious that as soon as an operation has been performed the instruments can beat once thrown into the inner case andcoveredwith the flap and that when the instruments are sterilized the inner case can be removed and washed in an antiseptic preparation and the outer case can be washed whenever deemed necessary.

It will be noted that the top of the lid and all the corners of my case are rounded and that there are no corners or angles in which contagious germs could lodge and escape destruction when the case was sterilized.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. An instrument-case comprising an outer case of waterproof material having rounded corners and a rounded lid, an inner case of sheet-rubber, a flap attached to the inner case of the same material, and a band adapted to distend the inner case.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a vulcanized outer case having rounded corners, of an inner case of soft rubber having a iiap along one edge, and a band of comparatively rigid material adapted to fit in the upper portion of the inner case and extend same to the dimensionsof the interior of the outer case. HELEN P. WILSON.

-Witnesses:

W. O. LAWRENCE, .T. W WILSON. 

